Kia ora koutou,
Our project will be on Project Whenua (Maori TV) this Tuesday at 8 pm. Thank you to all the Whangawehi Community, volunteers, school, parents and students for their help. You can be proud of what you have achieved.
Tena koe.
Nic
Today we travelled by bus to the Whangawehi awa and walked up to the rapids. We were ‘watching and looking’ around the environment to see what we could spot. Some people were helping Matua Arthur with the net to see if we could catch some whitebait. We also found shrimp and cockles. Back at school, we measured the cockles to find out what the prominent size of these was. It was interesting to learn that in comparison to last year, they are smaller. We also used the digital microscope and examined the whitebait closely. It was interesting to compare two different species. Many thanks to Matua Arthur and Whaea Jenni who assisted us with our workshop today and to the whanau that joined us on our walk. Kia ora!
Te Mahia school
Hawkes Bay Regional Council is helping the Whangawehi restoration project in establishing tools for volunteers to monitor efficiently the health of their stream. Today Peter Davis set up a gage that will be used by the volunteers to read the discharge of the stream. This critical information will allow the measurement of nutrient and sediment yields. The implementation of our western science based monitoring programme will start in December 2014. We will keep you posted. 
Conservation day was a great opportunity for the public to wander down the Whangawehi catchment to look at the restoration programme, learn more about the local history and enjoy some spectacular scenaries. A big thank you to DOC, Arthur Bowen our guide and the landowners for allowing us access on their farms.
Kia ora koutou, As you probably know Scottie production prepared a film for their new series on Maori TV. They have kindly offered us a short 5 minutes promotional film that you can have a look at by clicking on our video tab in the main menu of the blog.https://whangawehi.com/videos/ What a beautiful gift for such a great community! Well done Nic
On Wednesday 15 October Te Mahia School students went on two field trips. One bus load travelled to Opoutama wetlands(http://www.iserve.co.nz/users/nznfrt/nznfrt.org.nz/htdocs/index.php?page_id=105) where DOC ranger, Malcolm Smith, explained some features of wading wetland birds, using real bird models, and compared them to other birds who visit wetlands. The students walked to the raupo beds and listened for bittern calls, watched pukeko, and some also heard fern birds and saw swallows. After the freshwater wetlands they travelled to Oraka where the tidal wetlands of Maungawhio
Lagoon provide a habitat rich in food for dotterels nesting on the beach, and migratory godwits, knots and others.
Meanwhile another busload arrived at Mahia Beach to learn about the new sewerage system from on-lot installations, pump station, and settling ponds. After seeing a septic tank being installed at a private property the students saw a model which was explained by Jason Schirnack, Project Managing Engineer, and followed the story of filtration at septic tank, pumped liquid to the pump station, then 16 l per sec is pumped uphill to the settling ponds. The students then went to the settling ponds to learn what happens there.After lunch at the beach the students swapped destinations and experienced their second field trip of the day. It was a hot,beautiful day packed with action and information, which they are still processing.Jenny Scothern
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga rau rangatira ma e whakapau kaha nei ki te tiaki i te taiao, nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa.
Finally after months of coordinating, filming and editing we’ve finally got an on air date for “Project Whenua (formally Project Matauranga)”.Please find attached a brief summary of the 13 episodes, including on air dates. click here : PROJECT WHENUA episode synopsis
Again I really appreciate that without your assistance and selfless contribution it really wouldn’t have been possible, nā reira tēnei au e mihi kau atu ana ki a koutou katoa.
Will keep in touch and I hope you all enjoy the series.
Naku iti noa,
Na Darcel Rickard
Researcher/ Field Reporter
Project Matauranga
Scottie Douglas Productions Limited
355 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn
Auckland
Tel 09 360 5105/ mob 021 214 1956
If you want to learn more about the topic please follow the links :
– article:http://blog.hatumadp.co.nz/2014/09/sustainable-farming-for-future-generations-2/
– short video : http://youtu.be/OAYApHDwTyA
Enjoy the reading
The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group has a new supporter. Manawa Wiremu Paul Caviale Delzescaux was born on Tuesday the 30 th of September in Hastings. His Dad has already bought him his first spade, he will need it in years to come ! Brother and sisters are all happy with their new pepe and are looking forward to introducing him at our next community day.
Proud Dad
The local community of Whangawehi is proud to make public the Historical document produced by Mana Cracknel as part of the Whangawehi Catchment restoration programme. This unique and invaluable document has became the WCMGs’ cultural management plan that the organisation will follow over time.
Enjoy the reading.
Whangawehi Catchment Management Group 